North Lake Tahoe ski resort to offer full week of free skiing for community's residents

<b>Courtesy Diamond Peak Ski Resort </b>Anyone without a season pass to Diamond Peak and who is an Incline Village/Crystal Bay resident with either an IVGID Recreation Picture Pass or an IVGID Recreation Punch Card can ski for free each day of the week on Jan. 28 to Feb. 3.

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INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - Residents with a current Incline Village General Improvement District Recreation picture pass or punch card will have an opportunity to ski or ride for free at Diamond Peak Ski Resort from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3.

As part of a pilot program called Resident Appreciation Week, residents without a 2012-13 Diamond Peak season pass can get a free lift ticket per day during that week by going to the resort's ticket windows and presenting their current IVGID recreation pass or punch card.

"As a community-owned resort, we want to recognize and thank our residents for their contribution to the resort and to the district," Diamond Peak General Manager Brad Wilson said in a statement. "Resident Appreciation Week is an unprecedented way to do just that."

Current Diamond Peak resident season passholders won't be able to get free lift tickets, but they will have an opportunity to demo skis or snowboards for free on a daily basis - subject to availability - and have access to specialized, passholder-only clinics from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1.

The clinics are first-come, first-serve, with a limit of 10 per clinic, and will be held from noon to 2 p.m., each with a different focus:

• "Skill Improvement on Groomers" on Jan. 28 - basic tips for skiers on how to improve on groomed runs.

• "Carving" on Jan. 29 - for more advanced skiers, learning to use ski design to achieve more dynamic/higher speed carved turns.

• "Carving" on Jan. 30 - for more advanced snowboarders, learning to use snowboard design to achieve more dynamic/higher speed carved turns.

To sign up for a clinic, visit the Guest Services window or call 775-832-1253.

The week is scheduled for the end of January "so residents can get the best of the mountain," said Andrew Baird, marketing coordinator for the resort, since it falls between the busy Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents' Day weekends.

"They can experience the mountain uncrowded and no lift lines," he said.

Resident Appreciation Week also features a raffle, drink specials, a resident appreciation party on Saturday, Feb. 2, with live music, and a Super Bowl party on Feb. 3, starting about a half hour before the game in the Loft Bar. Time and location for the resident appreciation party have yet to be determined, Baird said.

As for Resident Appreciation Week returning next year, Baird said the resort is exploring the option, dependent on financial feasibility and resident interest and advantage of the program.